The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.
Melody Beattie
As the old year steps out and the New Year walks in, the whole world joins together to commemorate this joyous occasion with great fun and excitement. You can hear the church bells ringing, people raising toasts and fireworks blazing across the sky. The holiday season gets the people in celebration spirit when they gather with their loved ones and wish each other a year of health, wealth, and happiness. Each country has its own unique New Year customs and traditions. Read further to know how New Year is celebrated in different parts of the world.
Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year also known as the Spring Festival in China is celebrated in several East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. All the people return to their homes to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their families. It is celebrated either in January or February depending upon the movement of the moon. On this day, people dress up in new clothes, carry lanterns and join in a parade guided by a silk dragon, which is the Chinese symbol of strength. It is believed that the dragon hibernates most of the year, so people throw firecrackers to keep the dragon awake. This Spring Festival is celebrated for 15 days, which is one of the longest Chinese holidays.
Islamic New Year
The Islamic New Year also known as Hijri New Year marks the beginning of the month of Muharram, which is one of the four holy months of the Islamic calendar. It honors the immigration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, which is known as the Hijrah. For Muslims, the beginning of the New Year represents a period of self-reflection, remembrance, and gratitude. People commemorate this day by praying in the mosque and spending time with their family members and loved ones. Many people make resolutions on this day, which they try and keep all year long. For Shia Muslims, the Hijri New Year marks the beginning of the 10 days of mourning that leads to Ashura during which they practice chest-beating or even the act of flogging themselves. The Sunni Muslims considered Ashura as a day of gratitude & respect towards Prophet Moses.
Hindu New Year
According to the Hindu calendar, the Hindu New Year is celebrated in different states at the time of harvesting of crops and known by different names in various regions. Ugadi is the New Year celebration for the people of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Gudi Padwa marks the traditional New Year for Maharashtrians. Vishu is the New Year festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi marks the Sikh New Year. It is considered a religious festival in Sikhism and Hinduism, which is usually celebrated on 13th or 14th April every year. Bohag Bihu, also called Rongali Bihu or Xaat Bihu marks the beginning of Assamese New Year. Losoong or Namsoong marks the Sikkimese New Year of the Bhutia tribe. Pohela Boishakh or Bangla Nabobarsho is the traditional New Year celebrated in the Indian state of Bengal. Pana Sankranti, also known as Maha Bisuba Sankranti is the New Year celebration for the people of Odisha. Bestu Varas also called Varsha Pratipada or Padwa is Gujarati New Year that falls in the Hindu month of Kartik, which is the first month of the Gujarati Calendar. The festival of Navreh is celebrated by Kashmiri Pandit families as Kashmiri New Year.
Iranian New Year
Nowruz is the Iranian New Year, which is also known as Persian New Year. It marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of the month of the Iranian calendar, which usually occurs on March 21st or the previous or following day. Nowruz is a secular holiday for most people of different faiths but it is considered a holy celebration for Zoroastrians, Bahais, and some other Muslim communities. In Iran, families come together during New Year celebrations, wear new clothes, and exchange presents. It is a month-long celebration filled with gatherings, public rituals, craft-making, and street performances. More than 300 million people worldwide celebrate Nowruz and it has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years.
Ethiopian New Year
Ethiopia welcomes its New Year, Enkutatash (gift of jewels) on 11th September that marks the approximate end of the rainy season. Large celebrations are held across the country. People start their day by attending church in the morning. The Ethiopians sing songs dedicated to this day and exchange traditional flower bouquet. Families gather together to light a bonfire in their backyard and dance around it on the eve of the New Year. The national dish doro wot (chicken stew) is served along with local alcoholic drinks. The Ethiopian coffee is relished by people after the holiday feast is over.
These New Year celebrations give an insight into the culture and traditional values of different countries around the world.
